Alloys and the Die Casting Process
Zamak alloy is widely known for its diverse physical and mechanical properties, which makes it an approachable contender for die casting purposes. It comes with ideal proportions of strength, longevity, and melting point, which attributes to the features of the finished product.
The type of metal alloy and design plays a vital role in determining the castability of the aluminum alloy, and it is also used for adding flexibility to a product being manufactured. A manufacturer can strengthen the properties of aluminum alloy by using soldering sticks for completing a die casting process.
Aluminum Alloys
Zinc alloy is regarded as a highly castable material due to its adequate melting temperature; however, the use of aluminum is prevalent for die casting purposes. It is also one of the most affordable and accessible materials, which can be used for large volume casting purposes. The die casted aluminum components are often installed to vehicle, electronics, and power tools.
Aluminum is considered to have a specific gravity of 2.7, which significantly attributes to its structural material and lightweight; however, no manufacturer die-casts aluminum material in its crude form. Aluminum has a low melting point and tensile density, which makes it highly prone to shrinkage or breakage. The alloy can be further supplemented with magnesium, copper or silicon for improving its tensile strength and overall composition. Silicon is responsible for enhancing the fluidity and elasticity of aluminum. It also plays a role in reducing the specific gravity of the aluminum metal along with its thermal expansion, which makes it a great fit for die casting project. The use of silicone also improves the corrosion resistance of the material.
On the contrary, copper is used for improving the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy, and it also enhances the strength and tensile strength of the alloy—which significantly attributes to its mechanical properties.
Different Alloy Properties
Zamak is an amalgamation of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, and copper, which makes it a suitable contender for a die-casting alloy, and it can be widely used for die casting processes for manufacturing purposes. When selecting zamak alloy, a manufacturer is required to keep the tensile strength, application, melting temperature, modulus of elasticity, and yield strength of the alloy in mind before proceeding further to use it for die casting purposes.
